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Rural School Leaflet No. 2. April, 1922. 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. 

U. I BUREAU OF EDUCATION. 
WASHINGTON, D. C, 



TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS AT PUBLIC EXPENSE. 

By John C. Muerman, 
Specialist in Rural Education. 



Transportation of pupils to the public schools is specifically provided for by 
the school laws of 43 States. The remaining 5 States — Delaware, Florida, New 
Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming — permit transportation under the authority 
granted to school trustees or directors to provide for the general welfare of 
their school districts. 

The minimum distance, from the home of the pupil to the school, where 
transportation is made mandatory or permissible in five States is 1 mile, in 
three it is 11 miles, and in eight 2 miles. In the other States the school au- 
thorities are permitted to regulate the distance, which is usually 2 miles. 
Pupils who live on the regular transportation routes but at a less distance from 
the school building than the minimum are frequently given permission to ride, 
provided the conveyances are not overcrowded. 

Eight States, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, 
Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin, provide State aid for transportation. There 
are other States that use State funds for this purpose, provided there is noth- 
ing in the appropriation to prevent such use of State aid. 

TTPES OF TRANSPORTATION. 

So varied are the types of transportation in use, it is impossible to describe 
each one. The most common types are the horse-drawn wagon, van, or back, 
and the gasoline-driven autobus. 

In Northern States, when the snow is deep ia winter and the sleighing excel- 
lent, the body of the school van is frequently transferred to runners. Another 
type of horse-drawn transportation for winter use is a special body made for 
an ordinary bobsleigh, covered with tightly closed canvas to make it wind proof. 
The seats in this body run lengthwise, and its width is ample for the comfort 
of the childi-en. This is a light, cheap, and convenient method of wiiiter trans- 
portation during sleighing time, and among other places is used in sections of 
South Dakota. 

A comfortable and convenient type of horse-drawn transportation is a wide 
school van with glass windows which can be easily opened or closed. 

The autobus which is so rapidly coming into use is of three general types: 
An ordinary five to seven passenger car, used where but a few pupils are to be 
transported ; a small truck with seats usually on the side, with a capacity of 
99540°— 22 



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2 TEA1?^SP0RTATI0X OF PUPILS AT PUBLIC EXPENSE. ^ ^^ , (^ 

from 10 to 24 pupils: finally, the large auto school bus with seats down the 
center and on the sides, with a carrying capacity of 50 or 60 pupils or even 
more. In southern California " open-air " tru»:ks are in use. They are con- 
venient, comfortable, and cheaper than most of the other large heavy types, 
but the Northern, Central, and Western States must use inclosed bodies. 

The manufacture of an autobus with a body that can be transferred to the 
running gear of a wagon has been attempted, but not perfected. The necessity 
for a combination of this kind is found in a few localities when, during the 
rainy season, the roads are impassable for autos for from a few days to several 
weeks during the school term, but when horse-drawn transportation is still 
possible. 

Other types not so common are ferries, rowboats, launches, trolleys, and rail- 
roads. The State of Washington uses almost every type of transportation 
except the aeroplane and submarine. Horse-drawn vehicles at present out- 
number the other types. They are, however, fast being dis.placed by the more 
rapid and more comfortable autobusses. 

In hiUy and mountainous country, except where the roads are in unusually 
good condition, the horse-drawn vehicle is usually the only type that serves the 
purpose. The State of Colorado, with its good roads, is using over 400 auto- 
busses and 48 horse-drawn vehicles in its 146 consolidated districts. Over 90 
per cent of the children transported ride in the autobusses.^ 

The percentage of pupils transported by the different types in the State of 
Massachusetts in 1919 was approximately as follows : * 

By troUey 47 per cent. 

By horse-drawn vehicle 32 per cent. 

By motor bus 18 per cent. 

By raih-oad 3 per cent. 

In Massachusetts transportation on the ferries is allowed. In the State of 
Washington transportation by launches and even by rowboats is provided for 
school children in the Puget Sound counties. 

HEATIXG, LIGHTING, AND SANITATION. 

Safety, convenience, and comfort are the points to be considered in selecting 
any type of school transportation. Even during extreme cold weather foot 
warmers rather than stoves are preferred in the horse-drawn vehicles. The 
auto conveyance may be heated from the exhaust, may have electric lights, and 
even fans. 

The upholstering should be of material that can easily be brushed or cleaned, 
and the floor should be tight. A covering for the seats and back, made of 
washable material is used in some vans. The floor, windows, etc., must be 
cleaned frequently, and the van inspected daily by the superintendent or 

principal. 

COST or TRANSPORTATION. 

During the school year 1920-21 sixteen States — Alabama, Connecticut. Flor- 
ida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mon- 
tana, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont — transported 233,606 
pupiL«; at an average monthly cost of S3.50 per pupil. This cost in a few in- 

1 Consolidated Schools of the Mountains, Valleys, and Plains of Colorado. Colo. Agri. 
Col. Bui., June, 1921, by C. G. Sargent. 

- Consolidation of Schools and Transportation of Pupils at Public Expense in Massachu- 
setts. Bui. No. 6, 1920. 



LIBfURY OF CONGRESS 

«tgCICIVED 

JU Li 2192^ 

DOCUMENTS DIVISION 



TBANSPORTATION OF PUPILS AT PUBLIC EXPENSE. 3 

stances includes the original cost of conveyances and the construction of a 
garage. Eliminating these items, the cost per pupil is approximately $3 a 
month, or 15 cents per day. 

Reports available from 37 States for 1920-21 show that the sum of $15,850,814 
was spent for transportation, but the number of pupils transported was not 
given. The total amount of school funds expended for transportation during 
the school year 1917-18 in Massachusetts represented 2.18 per cent of all expendi- 
tures for the support of the public schools.* The report from Massachusetts 
was the only complete report on transportation received. 

In Jackson Township, Preble County, Ohio,* 11 horse-drawn hacks were 
displaced by 4 autobusses, and the daily cost per pupil was reduced from 
30.4 cents to 25.9 cents. For the entire county of Preble, where 20 autobusses 
and 60 horse-drawn hacks were used, the cost per child per day was 26.4 
for the motor busses and 20.5 cents for the horse-drawn hack. The cost per 
mile one way showed but little difference, 8.7 cents for the motor and 3.6 cents 
for the hack. 

All auto transportation costs depend largely upon salary of driver, care of 
machines, and type of machine used. If it is possible to secure teachers as 
drivers, as it is in the large open-country consolidated school of Sargent, 
Colo., where 11 of the 12 autobusses are driven by teachers (9 of the 11 are 
women), the cost may be much reduced. The teachers at the Sargent school 
receive .$25 a month for this extra service, while other consolidated districts 
in the same locality pay to outside help as drivers $40 a month, a saving in 
driver's salary alone of $1,485 for the school year of nine months. Another 
important item in costs is the proper care of the autobusses by competent 
mechanics. The Jordan High School in Utah has solved the problem for that 
school by building a fire-proof mechanics' building, dimensions 102 by 62 
feet, with cement floor inside and large parking platform outside. Here the 
11 large autobusses are cared for by student help under expert direction and 
at a minimum cost to the district. Depreciation, which may be added to 
service costs in autobusses, has been estimated at from 10 to 20 per cent a 
year with ordinary care; with extra care it is possible to lessen this per- 
centage. Neglect to provide proper care for the school autobusses during the 
three months of summer adds to the depreciation. The average school auto- 
bus should give at least five years of good service and show fully 100,000 
miles of travel. 

Transportation costs are increasing each year. The better types of convey- 
ances, whether horse drawn or gasoline driven, cost more in the beginning, but 
give greater satisfaction. Light and cheap autobusses are not recommended ; 
they cost much more for repairs and fuel and they give least service for the 
money expended. 

CONTRACTS WITH DRIVERS. 

The usual method of providing transportation for public-school pupils is to 
call for bids for the kind and type of transportation desired. In this call 
specifications are made that afterwards appear in the contract which the driver 
signs. These specifications state the length of route to be traveled ; type of 
auto or other conveyance to be used ; whether the driver or the school trustees 
shall supply the conveyance (the tendency seems to be strongly in favor of 

2 Consolidation of Schools and Transportation of Pupils at Public Expense in Massachu- 
setts. Bui. 6, 1920. 

* Consolidated Rural Schools and the Motor Truck. Bui. No. 6, Firestone Ship by Truck 
Bureau, Firestone Park, Akron, Ohio. July, 1920, 



4 TRANSPORTATIOlSr OF PUPILS AT PUBLIC EXPENSE. 

district-owned conveyances) ; and other items intended to secure the safety and 
comfort of the pupils transported. 

Bonds for the faithful fulfillment of the contract are required of all drivers 
by the school laws of Arkansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, and Mis- 
souri. The State school laws applying to transportation in a number of the 
States are so specific and exacting in their requirements for drivers, and so 
carefully safeguard the children who must be transported, that school directors 
in those States often do not require bonds, but it is always understood the con- 
tractor must fulfill every condition required by law. 

One example of such a State (Indiana) school law is quoted; the others are 
similar in their requirements : 

It shall be the duty of township trustees to hire drivers for such wagons or 
conveyances who shall furnish safe teams, except when automobiles are used. 
In all cases such drivers shall be 18 years of age or older and of good moral 
character, and must be experienced in the handling of teams or the driving of 
automobiles, depending on which is used. — Acts of 1919, p. 11. 

Such driver shall not sublet such contracts for driving school conveyances un- 
der penalty of forfeiture : Provided, That in the case of illness or unavoidable 
absence substitutes be temporarily appointed: Provided, That such substitutes 
shall meet with the approval of the township trustees and shall possess the 
same qualifications as specified in section 6 of this act. 

In order to provide for the safety of school children, it shall be unlawful for 
any person or persons driving any township wagon or conveyance, as is herein 
provided for, and used for the purpose of carrying children to and from school, 
to permit such wagon or conveyance to cross or enter upon the track or tracks 
of any steam or electric railroad, upon approaching thereto, without having 
first brought such wagon or conveyance to a full stop and having some one 
responsible occupant of such wagon or conveyance get out, walk ahead to such 
track or tracks, and declare the same to be clear, after having looked in both 
directions for approaching trains or cars. — School Laios, 1917, pp. 151-52. 

RULES ADOPTED BY SCHOOL BOARDS. 

The Montgomery County (Ala.) Board of Education adopted the following 
rules for drivers, which are given because they contain the essential features 
of 10 sets of rules received from other counties and State departments : 

RULES GOVERNING DRIVERS OF CONVEYANCES FOR CHILDREN IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY 

SCHOOLS. 

1. The driver of a truck must not pass a railroad crossing until it has been 
properly flagged. A railroad crossing is properly flagged when the truck 
comes to a complete stop ; the captain ^ gets out and stands on the crossing 
until the truck has crossed it. 

2. A truck, while children are in it, must not be run over 17 miles per hour 
and not more than 5 miles per hour over wooden bridges. 

3. While on the road, trucks must be run at least 75 yards apart. 

4. No driver has authority to change the adjustment of a carburetor, gov- 
ernor, or any part of a truck, unless in case of emergency, and then he must 
report the change made to the head mechanic immediately upon arrival at the 
garage. 

5. Drivers must observe all commonly accepted " rules of the road." 

6. Trucks must not be run with choke open. 

7. Trucks must never be left in gear while stopped. 

8. The driver must not leave the truck while the motor is running. 

9. Unless in case of emergency, or by direction of the principal, no truck 
shall be stopped on the road. 

10. The driver must keep a clean personal appearance when driving a truck 
in which children are being transported. Greasy overalls and unkempt appear- 
ance should be studiously avoided in the presence of pupils. 

8 The pupil selected as such. 



TEANSPORTATION OF PUPILS AT PUBLIC EXPENSE. 5 

AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME PUPILS ARE IN THE CONVEYANCE AND DIS- 
TANCES TRAVELED. 

Partial and complete reports from 20 States give the following information : 

Tlie average time pupils are in the conveyances is from 35 to 90 minutes 
one v^^ay! Sixty minutes should be the maximum time for any pupil. 

Schools open their doors for pupils at 8.30 a. m. Those who are transported 
leave home at 7.45 to 8 for the autobus and at 6.30 to 7.30 for the horse-drawn 
conveyance. 

The average distance traveled one way is from 5 to 6 miles for the horse- 
drawn conveyance and from 10 to 15 miles for the autobus. 

ADVANTAGES OF TRANSPORTATION. 

1. Protection for the pupils from wind, rain, and snow. 

2. Garments dry and comfortable when the children arrive at the school- 
house. 

3. More time at home in the morning and evening. 

4. Gi'eater regularity in attendance. 

5. Proper protection and supervision while going to and from school. 

6. The handicap of distance is removed. 

7. An equal opportunity is given to every child, to attend school. 



WASHINfiTON : GOVERNME.VT PRINTING OFFIOB : 1922 



